Del Monte is the oldest continuous eighteen hole course west of the Mississippi River. It was designed in 1897 by polo and golf enthusiast Charles Maud. For many years it was considered the best golf course in California, hosting prestigious tournaments like the Del Monte Cup, the Pacific Coast Open, and the 1916 Western Amateur Championship (Heinrich Schmidt 7&6 Douglas Grant). In 1920, Samuel Morse retained British architect William Herbert Fowler to redesign Del Monte, and the course we know today is mostly his work.
Del Monte is owned by the Pebble Beach Company and is their affordable option. It reminds me of the old parkland courses we have here in northeast Ohio. The greens are small, quick, and well bunkered. Three and four putting is a concern if you have a downhiller of any significant length. The deep rough makes up for the trees they lost that lined the fairway. While the scorecard boasts five par fours that play under 350 yards, it’s the long par threes that grab your attention. The shortest one is 168 yards yet its minuscule green is surrounded by sand traps. The longest is 215 yards and plays uphill. They put a lot of pressure on you to birdie the short fours. And once again, it’s the greens that will make or break your score. It is a thorough examination.
(The 178/158 yard par three fourth is the easiest of the quartet. The open front allows low and high shots to find the surface. Offline strikes will finish in one of the three sand traps.)
(Unlike the fourth, the 194/180 par three sixth has sand guarding most of the front. There’s room for multiple devious pin positions as it can be tucked directly behind the sand on both sides. Par is a great score.)
(The 376/362 yard par four seventh plays uphill with this tree smack dab in the fairway 170 yards from the tee…
…the second shot is the critical one as it’s an extra club with the left half forming a higher tier than the middle and right. It’s the number one handicap hole.)
(My personal favorite is the 533/517 yard par five ninth. It plays up and over the crest of the hill before doglegging right where a large cypress tree stands sentinel at the turn. If you can carry the trees right of it then you can shorten up the third shot. It’s a classic golf hole.)
Del Monte is in great shape and the recent bunker renovation looks fantastic. It’s a first class operation and a lot of fun to play. Along with Pacific Grove, these two options give the budget minded golfer an opportunity to play golf in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I give it a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).
(In the foreground is the green of the tenth while the background is of the eleventh. Note the staggered bunkers and trees on the right challenging the tee shot. Both are short par fours where you’ll want to secure at least one birdie to start the inward nine.)
(The 391/365 yard par four eighteenth plays alongside the Hyatt before doglegging left and playing towards an interesting green. Note how one circular side hides behind a bunker while the other is a tiny target extending away from the golfer. It’s very easy finding yourself long in the rough. Four is a good score.)
(We played the white tees at 6,048 yards. The two men I played with were Noah and Tom. Noah was a retired gentleman (and member) from Flint Michigan while Tom had a most peculiar job. He delivered fuel in Alaska for six months of the year. He had just taken up golf last October and was so smitten by it that he was playing every day during his off time.)
(This tri mural greets you as you walk to the pro shop. It’s a photo taken in 1917 of the caddies. Three of them would become professional golfers with the gentleman standing up in the center, Mortie Dutta, winning the 1955 Senior PGA Championship. However, in the front row, second from the left, is Alfred Santos, grandfather of the one and only Phil Mickelson.)
(The 326/299 yard par four fifth has a cross bunker that one must carry if they’re trying to drive the green. Most layup to it and hit a delicate pitch. The putting surface has a back upper tier that only the most confident will challenge.)
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